Have you ever heard someone say, “There’s a place for everything, and everything in its place”?
There’s a place for that tool. Put it where it’s supposed to go.
The shovel doesn’t stay in the yard. Put it up. Don’t leave the ax by the tree. Put it where it’s supposed to go. In the garage, on a hook on the wall…
Dad always wanted us to put his tools back where they belonged. We weren’t always the best at that. We’d cringe every time he came in the house asking about his tools not being where they were supposed to be. We’d stammer and stutter, then go outside looking all over the place for them. It would end up in another lecture about the “proper place” they needed to be. And we’d do better, for a while. No doubt, I’ll be saying that to my children one day. Because it’s true, there’s a proper place for things.
Right now, I’m thinking about how this applies to our attitudes and feelings.
Are you angry? There’s a proper place for that anger. It is okay to be angry, but anger must be ventilated correctly. Let me explain.
Are you angry about something at work? That anger doesn’t belong at home. Hurt and anger must be run through the proper channels. It mustn’t be allowed to build up. Deal with it as soon as you can.
Are you angry about what someone did to you? That anger shouldn’t be placed on your spouse or children.
Anger has to manifest itself somehow, someway. Put anger where it belongs.
Get your anger out by shooting free throws on the basketball court. Or by pumping iron. You may have to demolish a punching bag: built by Everlast. Humans are not punching bags. One should never hit a spouse or child.
Exhaust your frustrations outside of your home.
Are you tired of the politicians running the country? Vote. Vote them out.
Are you discontented with their inability to do anything? Vote. Put someone else in there who will enact change for the better.
Don’t like your congressman or city councilman? Vote.
Quell your frustrations in the voting booth.
Are you upset with the leadership at work? There’s a place for the upsetting feeling. Work hard and do well.
You might be the next in line. It will take time, patience, and perseverance, but put being upset in its proper place.
Don’t gossip to or about your coworkers. Don’t complain to others outside of the workplace.
Do the best you can. Be someone who can step up when the time comes.
Persevere and pursue your goals. There is a time and place for you to succeed.
There’s a place for that.
Is there too much debt to handle? Are you feeling overwhelmed by life in general?
Take that feeling of urgency and use it to overcome the obstacles in your life.
Don’t just sit back and let your thoughts and life’s circumstances overwhelm you!
Meet them head-on and conquer them! Put the urgency and fervency in their proper place.
You may not be able to keep the problems out of your life, but you can keep them from getting a stranglehold on your mind and heart.
I like what Robert W. Service said in his poem “Carry On.”
And so in the strife of the battle of life
It’s easy to fight when you’re winning;
It’s easy to slave, and starve and be brave,
When the dawn of success is beginning.
But the man who can meet despair and defeat
With a cheer, there’s the man of God’s choosing;
The man who can fight to Heaven’s own height
Is the man who can fight when he’s losing.
Carry on! Carry on!
Fight the good fight and true;
Believe in your mission, greet life with a cheer;
There’s big work to do, and that’s why you are here.
Carry on! Carry on!
Let the world be the better for you;
And at last when you die, let this be your cry:
Carry on, my soul! Carry on!
You can read the remainder of that poem here.
Looming black clouds may be on the horizon, fast approaching, but you don’t have to turn around. You can keep pressing on.
Whatever your feelings are, they don’t have to be in charge. You can put them in their proper place and be victorious.
to those needing to find the proper place,
– Caleb
caneymountainblog.com 